9 Common Mistakes You Are Currently Making When Washing Your Face

Washing your face seems pretty simple and easy as you have been doing it your whole life. Well, have you ever thought that you might be doing something wrong? No! Then it's the time to think. You can do more harm than good to your face if you are not doing it the right way as it can result in dryness, wrinkles, premature sagging, acne, rashes, irritation and more.

Here are the few things you should consider to avoid committing mistakes:

Chose the right cleanser:

It is difficult to label one cleanser as the best because everyone's skin is different. So choose your cleanser as per your skin type. To keep it simple, opt for a cleanser that removes the dirt, germs and excess oil, but still leaves the skin feeling moist & healthy. A harsh or unsuitable cleanser can make your skin dry and red.

Wash your hands first:

This is one of the important steps that most people ignore. It is important to
wash your hands
first because washing your face with dirty hands means you are transferring all the dirt, germs and grease of your hands on your face. This step is usually overlooked as we assume the hands will get cleaned along with the face, but, it is advisable to clean that grime and germs from your hands before moving to your face.

Use normal or lukewarm water:

Avoid using too hot or too cold water for rinsing the face. It is a myth that cold water closes the pores and hot water opens them. Pores do not have muscles to close or open. Though hot water feels good on skin during winters, it washes away essential oils of the skin leaving it dry. On the other hand, using icy cold water on the face irritates the skin and breaks the capillaries.

You should use lukewarm water or normal temperature water to rinse your face. It keeps your skin hydrated and unaffected.

Use clean and soft washcloth:

Wipe you face with clean and soft washcloth. Avoid using the towel kept closest to the sink/ washbasin. Since it is used by everyone in the family, it carries a lot of dust and germs, which will end up on your skin.

Instead, use your fingers first to clear off the excess water. Your hands know just how much pressure you are applying on your face, but with cloth or any other substitute you might be a little too rough. If you are using a washcloth, do not rub it on the skin, instead just pat it dry. Also, let a fine mist of water remain on face so when you apply a moisturizer/creme as it will seal the moisture into the surface of the skin.

Exfoliate once or twice a week:

An exfoliator or scrub removes dead skin cells & increases blood circulation, resulting in a rosy glow. But, used too frequently, or using a scrubs with harsh grains can damage your skin. Use a gentle scrub made of sugar or a fruit base. Also, for best results use it once or a maximum of twice a week.

Rinse the cleanser completely:

Make sure that you rinse the cleanser completely from your face. Skimping on rinsing may leave some residues on the face which can clog the pores and dry the skin later. Rinse thoroughly especially from the hairline, neck and sides of the nose. These are the common places often missed and can lead to skin irritation later. Keep rinsing until all the cleanser is washed off from the skin.

Be careful with under eye skin:

Many people splash water on their face in an urge to wake themselves up in the morning. But you need to be gentler here. The skin under the eye is more delicate than the rest of the face. Hence use your fingers to gently rub the under eye skin and eyelids. Also, use a gentle eye
makeup remover
and do not use harsh soaps or cleansers directly.

Apply moisturizer:

Use a moisturizer immediately after washing your face when the skin is still damp. Waiting until your skin is completely dry makes it harder for the active ingredients to get absorbed into your skin and can cause the skin to feel greasy or tacky.

Wash your face twice in a day:

You should wash your face twice daily. Once in the morning when you wake up - to clean the dirt and germs deposited on your skin overnight. And, the second time before going to bed - to take off the makeup and the grime collected throughout the day. Not cleaning the skin can cause yeast build up that can result in scaling and redness. But always ensure that you do not over cleanse as it disrupts the natural barrier functions and can make conditions like
acne worse
.